Press release
For Release 22nd June 2015
Charity single release by emerging young artist, Emma Lawrence helpsblind children to read
“You Are”,is the exciting new single written and performed by 18 year old singer/songwriter Emma Lawrence and produced by Damon Sawyer of Platform Studios. It is being released on Friday 10th Julyto raise money for the national, award winning charity, Living Paintings:
“When I was volunteering for them I saw at first hand how Living Paintings really changes the lives of blind children andI wanted to do something more to help. One mum told me how her daughter’s ‘very dark world had been made bright’ by their work and that’s what gave me the idea; in “you are” I refer to coming through dark times. It all just seemed to make sense.” Emma Lawrence
Emma is a fresh new talent on the music scene. An accomplished singer/songwriter from Newbury on the Hampshire/Berkshire borders, she has been writing and performing in public since she was 15 years old. Her songs are written from the heart and inspired by the challenges and influences experienced by teenagers every day. She has already released two EPs and had a top 40 chart hit in the iTunes singer/songwriter charts. Later this year, Emma will be taking up a place at the prestigious BIMM (British and Irish Modern Music Institute) which has nurtured talent such as George Ezra, The Kooks and James Bay.
In “You Are” Emma’s strong, folk-tinged voice has been blended with a classic rock melody created by renowned session musicians Geoff Dunn (drums), Greg Coulson (keyboard), Liam Tillyer (bass), Stu Dixon (guitar) and Beth Porter (‘cello) to produce a moody, infectious and catchy pop standard.
“Emma’s music is a fusion of folk and pop and clearly expresses the emotions of her songs, Her sound crosses the borders of Florence and the Machine, Lana Del Rey and Adele but has its own unique quality and style. Her inspiration comes form such artists as Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith and Emilie Sande.” Damon Sawyer
Living Paintings publishes audio and tactile books which give blind children the chance to enjoy reading picture books in the same way as their sighted friends. They lend out the books through a free postal library and support themselves entirely through grants and donations.
“It is simply amazing that Emma is supporting our charity in this way. All the profits from the sale of “You Are” will come straight to Living Paintings so its no surprise that we are doing everything we can to promote it despite being music industryvirgins! As we have just celebrated reaching 10,000 blind and partially sighted people with our free service we thought it fitting to set a target of getting 10,000 downloads of the single. The money raised will help us literally transform the livesof so many more blind children.” Camilla Oldland, CEO Living Paintings
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Further Information
“You Are” will be available for Itunes pre-order from 26th June and download from 10th July 2015 at a cost of 79p.
For Emma Lawrence please contact:
Vicki-Kyle Lawrence
Tel: 07970 297940
Email:
Website:
For Living Paintings
Please contact:
Camilla Oldland
Tel: 01635 299771
Email:
Website:
Twitter: LivingPaintings
Facebook: Living Paintings
- Living Paintings was founded in 1989 by former art history lecturer, Alison Oldland, MBE, who remained its acting Chairman until her death in 2008. Her daughter Camilla has been running the charity for 25 years and continues to uphold her mother’s vision for the charity and develop it to meet changing needs.
- Living Paintings provides a free library of Touch to See (tactile and audio) books which bring the visual world to life for blind and partially sighted people.
- Living Paintings has 10,000 blind and partially sighted beneficiaries.
- The charity is funded entirely by voluntary donations. Its work is achieved through the help of 300 volunteers.
- It has the support of many actors and presenters including Lauren Laverne, Jo Whiley, Mark Goodier, Marc Riley, Steve Lemacq, Sir Derek Jacobi, Lord Julian Fellowes, Luke Newberry, Joanna Lumley, Sir Terry Wogan, Michael Sheen, Martin Clunes, David Walliams, Hugh Bonneville and Warwick Davies who have all lent their voices to the audio descriptions.
- Membership of the library is free and there are thousands of books available for borrowing by children, teachers, families and carers.
- Books are delivered, free of charge, via the Royal Mail across Britain and Ireland.
- The ever-growing catalogue includes books on British wildlife, the “100 Objects” collection at the British Museum, English Gardens, architecture, dinosaurs, weather, science, famous works of art, astronomy and much more.
- Library membership can begin from pre-school age and continue through school to teenage years and on into adulthood. Living Paintings helps at all stages of life.
- Living Paintings uses social media including Twitter, Facebook, SoundCloud and YouTube to reach its supporters.
- Registered charity number: 1049103